That’s right. I think health and fitness are well and good, but give me a cute race medal and I will lace up my tennies and start training.

(The cheering crowds & bragging rights don’t hurt. Obviously.)

So when I decided I wanted to get serious about writing I knew that I needed some motivation.

Enter NaNoWriMo.

Source: LivBCampbell

It’s the perfect blend of virtual bling and friendly competition.

HOW TO ROCK THE 2015 NaNoWriMo

Maybe you need to start writing, to keep writing, or to finally explore that twinkle-in-your-eye novel idea that keeps popping up.

Writing 50k words in a month sounds, in a word, intense.

So I’ve been thinking up a few good ways to make sure I have the inspiration and mental fuel I need to keep the character count going in the right direction.

Whether you’re writing the next Great American Novel, or the next YA-fanfic-turned-runaway Bestseller — here are a few things to keep your head in the race (and your fingers flying over the keyboard) over the next 30 days.

2. Start Plotting (or at least Choose Your Pants)

PLOTTERS (like me) will need a bit of advanced prep to blitz confidently through the word gauntlet.

I plan to have several generic beat sheets handy for quick reference, a few story concepts, character lists, etc.

PANTSTERS might want to have one, or a few, of these basics noted: a basic plot, characters, the twist, or anything that will get you started or save you if you feel stalled.

3. Get Your Writing Space Ready!

-Choose a flat surface and make a clearing.
-Get a NaNoWriMo mug.
-Set the mood – buy yourself some flowers or other decor.
-Figure out where to save your work: Google Drive, Scrivener, Dropbox Sync, etc.

4. Block Out Writing Time

Commit to writing SOMETHING daily. Even if it’s just, “I wrote something today.”

Plan for days you know you won’t write much – Hello Thanksgiving! (See above: Commit to writing daily.)

Know your energy patterns: don’t plan to write in the mornings if you’re not an early riser.

Get a blank calendar and write down the weekly cumulative word goals, so you know when to escape to the library for a catch-up day or two.

Hint: The daily goal is 1,667 to be on track to win.

5. Put On Your Writing Uniform

A little SWAG never hurt anyone.

If it inspires you to think like a bestselling author, consider donning: